Megan Shepherd, author of The Madman’s Daughter (Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins, 2013), will lead a young adult (YA) fiction-writing class from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, in UNC Asheville’s Karpen Hall, room 006. This is a one-day, non-credit course sponsored by the university’s Great Smokies Writing Program.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about what young adult literature is,” said Shepherd. “In this workshop, we’ll discuss the philosophy behind YA literature, how it differs from other categories like middle grade and adult fiction, how literary and commercial YA varies, and what the ‘rules’ are—if there are any—for writing in this age range.”

The course will also include information on publishing and working with agents and editors.

Shepherd is the author of numerous children’s magazine articles and two young adult fiction trilogies. The first book of her Madman’s Daughter trilogy has been optioned by Paramount Pictures as a feature film. Her second trilogy, The Cage, will be released by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins beginning in the summer of 2015.

Cost for the classis $25; pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Nancy Williams at nwilliam@unca.edu or 828.250.2353.